Vocabulary List

Travel & Transportation in Japanese

旅行 (ryokō)

Trains, tickets, and travel essentials for getting around Japan.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
電車denshatrain
バスbasubus
飛行機hikōkiairplane
kurumacar
自転車jitenshabicycle
タクシーtakushītaxi
ekistation
空港kūkōairport
切符kipputicket
パスポートpasupōtopassport
ホテルhoteruhotel
地図chizumap
michiroad / way
旅行ryokōtravel / trip
荷物nimotsuluggage
出発shuppatsudeparture
到着tōchakuarrival

電車 (densha, "train") is the backbone of getting around Japan — most cities run on rechargeable IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) that work across trains, subways, and buses nationwide, so a 切符 (kippu, paper ticket) is mostly needed for long-distance Shinkansen journeys. 駅 (eki, "station") appears in thousands of place names and is one of the first kanji most learners recognize, since it's posted on every platform sign next to the station's name in kanji, hiragana, and rōmaji.

Learn directions next

Knowing how to ask for and follow directions pairs naturally with travel vocabulary — see our guide to Japanese directions.